"The important thing is that the squad here won the Championship last year," he said after winning his first game as Royals boss.

"Obviously we want to play in a certain manner but it has got to be winning football. The players sampled the Championship last year so I'd like to think that gives us a good opportunity with the stability that we've already got at the club to look to strive to keep improving on what we've got.

"It is about winning - we are all well aware of that. It is not easy for anybody in the Premier League, especially to go on and win games. Obviously Reading were in the Championship last season and I promoted myself out of the division so we know how relentless it is going to be next season.

"It will be Saturday then Tuesday, Saturday then Tuesday - there is a lot of games to be played. You need your squad of players all to contribute and we want to play football in a certain manner, but it has to be winning football.

"Against Fulham we saw progression in what we are looking to do and important we got a good victory, plus to score four goals away is really pleasing."